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Hudson Valley Woman Sentenced For Attempted Arson Of NYPD Van With 4 Officers Inside Hudson Valley Woman Sentenced For Attempted Arson Of NYPD Van With 4 Officers Inside
Hudson Valley Woman Sentenced For Attempted Arson Of Nypd Van With 4 Officers Inside A New York woman is heading to federal prison after admitting she tried to set fire to an occupied NYPD van during protests over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020. Ulster County resident Samantha Shader, age 29, of Saugerties, was sentenced to 6 years behind bars Tuesday, Nov. 15, in federal court in Brooklyn. It followed her April 2022 guilty plea to using an improvised incendiary device, commonly known as a Molotov cocktail. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District, Shader traveled from her home in Saugerties to Brooklyn on May 29…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Teen Suing NY School For Refusing To Publish George Floyd Poem Teen Suing NY School For Refusing To Publish George Floyd Poem
Teen Suing NY School For Refusing To Publish George Floyd Poem A New York teenager is seeking millions of dollars from a Long Island school district that refused to publish her poem regarding the murder of George Floyd a year ago. Ruby Ray, a sophomore in the Port Jefferson School District attending Vandermeulen High School in Suffolk County, is alleging that she wrote “Derek Chauvin’s Ode to George Floyd: A Dark Sonnet’’ in late April and submitted it to her school’s literary magazine for publication, only to be turned down this week by the district. In response, Ray, who is 16 years old, and her family filed a $2 million notice of claim against the …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Calls For Area Teacher To Be Fired Over Allegedly Racist George Floyd Assignment Grow Calls For Area Teacher To Be Fired Over Allegedly Racist George Floyd Assignment Grow
Calls For Area Teacher To Be Fired Over Allegedly Racist George Floyd Assignment Grow Calls for a Hudson Valley teacher to either be fired or resign are growing over what many are calling a racist assignment. The controversy began last week in Ulster County when Saugerties High School English teacher Hope Antonelli, gave her ninth-grade English class a writing assignment stating that “George Floyd did not die because (Derek) Chauvin’s knee was on his neck. He died from a heart attack and drug overdose.” Chauvin, the  former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty of murder and manslaughter on Tuesday, April 20 for killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin Found Guilty On All Counts At George Floyd Murder Trial Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin Found Guilty On All Counts At George Floyd Murder Trial
Ex-Cop Derek Chauvin Found Guilty On All Counts At George Floyd Murder Trial The panel of seven women and five male jurors reached a verdict in the murder trial for Derek Chauvin, who was found guilty on all counts of killing George Floyd in Minneapolis. After being sequestered on Monday afternoon, April 19 following closing arguments from both sides, the jury announced the guilty verdict of Chauvin late in the afternoon on Tuesday, April 20 to a resounding cheer from crowds that gathered outside the courtroom. The verdict arrived after approximately 10 hours of deliberations over the two days with it being released at approximately 5:05 p.m. on Tuesday. Specifica…

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by Zak Failla
News
New Guidance For Reforms Issued To 500 NY Jurisdictions With Police Departments New Guidance For Reforms Issued To 500 NY Jurisdictions With Police Departments
New Guidance For Reforms Issued To 500 NY Jurisdictions With Police Departments With shootings and other crimes spiking during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing for police reform throughout the state. Cuomo announced on Monday, Aug. 17 that he was sending a letter to 500 jurisdictions with police departments imploring them to work with the community on reforming police departments in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Calling the tension between police and members of the community “real and out there,” Cuomo offered a framework and topics for consideration by local police departments, elected officials and citize…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Calls Grow For Whole Foods Boycott After Store Sends Employees Home For BLM Masks COVID-19: Calls Grow For Whole Foods Boycott After Store Sends Employees Home For BLM Masks
Covid-19: Calls Grow For Whole Foods Boycott After Store Sends Employees Home For BLM Masks Some demonstrators are protesting Whole Foods Market for the company’s policy that bans workers from wearing “Black Lives Matter” masks while on the job. Dozens protested outside a Cambridge, Massachusetts, Whole Foods over the weekend after seven employees walked out after being turned away while wearing “BLM” face coverings, according to the Boston Globe. Reports said that the protesters want “no place safe for racism” in corporate America, and accuse the company of refusing to take a side on the issue following the outbreak of protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of …

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by Zak Failla
News
Officer Arraigned For Allegedly Using Excessive Force With Handcuffed Woman In Westchester Officer Arraigned For Allegedly Using Excessive Force With Handcuffed Woman In Westchester
Officer Arraigned For Allegedly Using Excessive Force With Handcuffed Woman In Westchester A police officer in the area has been arraigned and charged for allegedly using excessive force with a woman who was handcuffed and under arrest last year. Mount Vernon Police Officer Ryan Hughes, who turned himself in to investigators last month, has been arraigned an charged with second-degree reckless endangerment in Mount Vernon City Court, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. announced on Wednesday afternoon, July 1. Hughes’ arrest came while national protests were raging after the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police. Earlier story - Police Of…

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by Zak Failla
News
Student's Social Media Post With Racial Slur Being Investigated By Marist College Student's Social Media Post With Racial Slur Being Investigated By Marist College
Student's Social Media Post With Racial Slur Being Investigated By Marist College With the nation in a state of unrest after George Floyd’s police-related death in Minnesota, officials at Marist College are investigating a social media message posted by a student that contained a racial epithet. An Instagram photo depicting the student in question and another person in a car had the n-word on the post, prompting Marist College President Dennis Murray to launch an investigation and reach out to the community. The college’s Office of Student Conduct is “in the process of investigating and addressing this situation as a disciplinary matter,” according to Murray. Acco…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
School Board Member Resigns Over Facebook Posts On George Floyd, Protests School Board Member Resigns Over Facebook Posts On George Floyd, Protests
School Board Member Resigns Over Facebook Posts On George Floyd, Protests The school member who sparked a backlash in Putnam County after Facebook posts about the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests has resigned. The Brewster Board of Education announced Saturday morning, June 13 that Krista Berardi had stepped down as a trustee. Berardi submitted her letter of resignation late Friday night, June 12, the board said. Brewster School Board President Sonia Mesika had called for Berardi to resign and members of the community held a protest over the situation after a Change.org petition started by Brewster High School student garnered tho…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Ban On Chokeholds, Other Police, Criminal Justice Reforms Become Law In New York Ban On Chokeholds, Other Police, Criminal Justice Reforms Become Law In New York
Ban On Chokeholds, Other Police, Criminal Justice Reforms Become Law In New York New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law that will radically reform policing throughout the state. At the conclusion of his daily COVID-19 briefing on Friday, June 12 in Manhattan, Cuomo signed a police reform package that he dubbed the “Say Their Name Agenda.” Flanked by Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Rev. Al Sharpton, Cuomo signed the legislation into law that includes the ban of chokeholds by police. The package also calls for the repeal of Section 50a of the Civil Rights law, which will include more transparency of police disciplinar…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
School Board President Calls For Member To Resign After Facebook Post On George Floyd, Protests School Board President Calls For Member To Resign After Facebook Post On George Floyd, Protests
School Board President Calls For Member To Resign After Facebook Post On George Floyd, Protests Click here for an updated story - School Board Member Resigns Over Facebook Posts On George Floyd, Protests While recognizing free speech rights, Brewster School Board President Sonia Mesika is calling for a trustee to resign after she made inflammatory social media posts after the death of George Floyd. Earlier story - School Board Won't Remove Member For Facebook Post On George Floyd, Protests On Sunday, May 31, a post on Trustee Krista Berardi's Facebook account said: “Read This Now!!! Was the George Floyd Incident Staged?” in all capital letters. Later, on Wednesday, June 3…

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by Zak Failla
News
Local Police Departments Throughout NY Must Implement These Reforms, Cuomo Executive Order Says Local Police Departments Throughout NY Must Implement These Reforms, Cuomo Executive Order Says
Local Police Departments Throughout NY Must Implement These Reforms, Cuomo Executive Order Says Law enforcement agencies throughout New York State are being required by Executive Order to “reform and reinvent” the way they police while collaborating with their communities amid civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an Executive Order on Friday, June 12 that will require the state's more than 500 local and county police agencies to develop a plan “that reinvents and modernizes police strategies and programs in their community based on community input.” If communities don’t comply, Cuomo said that those police departments will…

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by Zak Failla
News
School Board Won't Remove Member For Facebook Post On George Floyd, Protests School Board Won't Remove Member For Facebook Post On George Floyd, Protests
School Board Won't Remove Member For Facebook Post On George Floyd, Protests A school board member in Putnam County will keep her position after making insensitive comments on social media after the death of George Floyd. During a Zoom Board of Education meeting that was heavily attended by community members on Thursday night, June 11, the Brewster Board of Education announced it would not be removing Krista Berardi from the board after her comments surfaced. On Sunday, May 31, a post on Berardi's Facebook account said: “Read This Now!!! Was the George Floyd Incident Staged?” in all capital letters. Days later, on Wednesday, June 3, a post on the account read: “Thi…

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by Zak Failla
News
Police Officer Arrested In Excessive Force Incident, Westchester DA Says Police Officer Arrested In Excessive Force Incident, Westchester DA Says
Police Officer Arrested In Excessive Force Incident, Westchester DA Says A police officer in the area has been arrested for allegedly using excessive force with a woman who was handcuffed, intoxicated, and under arrest. Flanked by his lawyer, Mount Vernon Police officer Ryan Hughes turned himself in to the Westchester District Attorney’s Office in White Plains, where he was charged with reckless endangerment after allegedly manhandling a woman in his custody. The arrest comes amid national protests over the police-related death of George Floyd. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino Jr. said that on Aug. 24 last year, inside the Mount Vernon Poli…

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by Zak Failla
News
NY Police Reform Legislation Bans Chokeholds By Law Enforcement Officers NY Police Reform Legislation Bans Chokeholds By Law Enforcement Officers
NY Police Reform Legislation Bans Chokeholds By Law Enforcement Officers Proposed "Say Their Name" legislation following the death of George Floyd and an ongoing pattern of police brutality includes several new measures in New York State, including banning chokeholds by law enforcement officers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Friday, June 5 at his daily news briefing in Albany that he expects the legislation to pass next week and that he will work with the State Legislature to get the policies installed.  "Say Their Name" refers to victims of police-related incidents. (See image above.) The list of policy priorities builds on earlier proposals in the …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Area DPW Supervisor Resigns After Racial Comment Area DPW Supervisor Resigns After Racial Comment
Area DPW Supervisor Resigns After Racial Comment The resignation of an area department of public works interim supervisor after allegedly addressing another employee with a racial slur has led to unrest among village residents. The drama unfolded on Thursday, June 4, in Sullivan County when the village of Monticello Department of Public Works Interim Supervisor Ray Jones resigned after being caught on video calling the employee the "n" word, said Monticello Mayor Gary Sommers. A small group of protestors gathered in front of City Hall on Thursday to complain that Jones was allowed to resign instead of being fired. The incident, which had…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
'Protesters Are Not Same As Rioters,' Rockland County Exec Says, Clarifying Earlier Comments 'Protesters Are Not Same As Rioters,' Rockland County Exec Says, Clarifying Earlier Comments
'Protesters Are Not Same As Rioters,' Rockland County Exec Says, Clarifying Earlier Comments Rockland Executive Ed Day is clarifying comments he made earlier this week after saying the county is ready to “take on anarchists” who were posting social media threats online. While many peaceful protests have been held in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, there have been some opportunists taking advantage of the situation by looting and committing other violent acts. “These anarchists come to this county at their own peril,” Day wrote on Facebook after some threats were made on social media earlier this week. “This is not de Blasio nor Cuomo territory and there will be n…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: If You Went To A Protest, Get A Free Test, Cuomo Tells NYers COVID-19: If You Went To A Protest, Get A Free Test, Cuomo Tells NYers
Covid-19: If You Went To A Protest, Get A Free Test, Cuomo Tells NYers New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reiterated that he “stands with protesters” demonstrating in the wake of the death of George Floyd, though he now wants them to get tested for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). During his daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, June 4 in Albany, Cuomo warned that there could be a potential rise in cases in protesters who could unknowingly be “super spreaders” for the virus. It is estimated that there were approximately 30,000 protesters throughout the state, including 20,000 in New York City and 1,000 on Long Island. The state is expanding COVID-19 testing criteria to …

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by Zak Failla
News
Protest Drawing Nearly 2,000, Including Yankees Legend, Leads To Road Closure In Westchester Protest Drawing Nearly 2,000, Including Yankees Legend, Leads To Road Closure In Westchester
Protest Drawing Nearly 2,000, Including Yankees Legend, Leads To Road Closure In Westchester Nearly 2,000 people, including a first-ballot Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, flooded the streets of one of Westchester’s largest cities in support of racial justice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. On Wednesday, June 3, demonstrators of all ages, races, and backgrounds in New Rochelle marched down North Avenue to City Hall holding signs and shouting rallying cries over Floyd’s death and racial inequality. “A truly impressive protest last night at City Hall in support of racial justice,” New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said. “Impressive not on…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Some Hudson Valley Businesses Board Up Doors, Windows Due To Looting Threats Some Hudson Valley Businesses Board Up Doors, Windows Due To Looting Threats
Some Hudson Valley Businesses Board Up Doors, Windows Due To Looting Threats Some store owners in the Hudson Valley are taking precautions and boarding up doors and windows of their businesses as civil unrest continues to grow in the wake of the police-related death of George Floyd. Protests erupted across the nation in the wake of Floyd’s death in Minneapolis last week with one officer now facing a second-degree murder charge and three other officers now charged with aiding and abetting murder. While most protests have been peaceful throughout the Hudson Valley, some have taken advantage of the upheaval by looting and destroying some businesses. There have now be…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NY Death Toll Falls To Lowest Level Since Start Of Pandemic COVID-19: NY Death Toll Falls To Lowest Level Since Start Of Pandemic
Covid-19: NY Death Toll Falls To Lowest Level Since Start Of Pandemic With all eyes in the country focused on protests and incidents of looting, New York State quietly had the lowest number of new novel coronavirus (COVID-19) hospitalizations and deaths since the pandemic struck. On Day 95 of the COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that there were fewer than 150 new hospitalizations and 49 deaths attributed to the virus overnight, record lows after the state peaked at more than 800 fatalities in one day. During his daily COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, June 3 in Albany, Cuomo praised the frontline workers for helping stem the spread of the virus, statin…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Expect New Virus Outbreaks Due To Nationwide Protests, Surgeon General Says COVID-19: Expect New Virus Outbreaks Due To Nationwide Protests, Surgeon General Says
Covid-19: Expect New Virus Outbreaks Due To Nationwide Protests, Surgeon General Says One of the nation’s top health officials is cautioning that there are likely to be new outbreaks of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as groups congregate during protests over the death of George Floyd. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said this week that although many have been wearing face coverings during protests, the thousands of people gathering in close proximity over the last few days protesting Floyd's death is likely to lead to a spike in cases. "I remain concerned about the public health consequences both of individual and institutional racism (and) people out protesting in a way th…

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by Zak Failla
News
'Do Your Job,' Cuomo Tells NYPD, de Blasio Amid Looting; NYC Curfew Extended Through Weekend 'Do Your Job,' Cuomo Tells NYPD, de Blasio Amid Looting; NYC Curfew Extended Through Weekend
'Do Your Job,' Cuomo Tells Nypd, de Blasio Amid Looting; NYC Curfew Extended Through Weekend The curfew in New York City has been extended for the rest of the week, through the weekend as looting and protests continue to break out in the wake of the police-assisted death of George Floyd in Minneapolis as Gov. Andrew Cuomo publicly criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio's response.  De Blasio announced that the curfew will be in effect nightly from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Sunday, June 7. following five nights of protests in the five boroughs and throughout the country. Earlier story - NYC Will Have Curfew After Looting On Fourth Night Of Protests “Anyone who is upset about the statu…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
County Exec Issues Warning To 'Anarchists,' Saying Rockland Isn't Cuomo/de Blasio Territory County Exec Issues Warning To 'Anarchists,' Saying Rockland Isn't Cuomo/de Blasio Territory
County Exec Issues Warning To 'Anarchists,' Saying Rockland Isn't Cuomo/de Blasio Territory Rockland is ready to take “anarchists” head-on if those posting threats on social media make their way into the county, according to officials. With looting following otherwise peaceful protests continuing nationwide over the police-related death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, a former police officer, said that he and local law enforcement will be ready to deal with anything that may come about. Day then referenced looting in New York City and Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo's handling of the outbreaks. 
“These anarchists come to this county at…

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by Zak Failla
News
Storefronts Smashed At Two Businesses In Westchester Storefronts Smashed At Two Businesses In Westchester
Storefronts Smashed At Two Businesses In Westchester Storefronts in Westchester were smashed overnight amid protests over the police-related death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Looting in the wake of Floyd’s death reached Yonkers on Monday, June 1, as storefronts at Westchester Jewelry and Merk Chemists on McLean Avenue were smashed, according to reports, though additional details from police were not immediately released. The break-ins come days after there were peaceful protests in the city, with hundreds taking to Yonkers streets, marching from City Hall to Riverdale Avenue, and the Saw Mill River Parkway chanting Floyd’s name, “Black Li…

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by Zak Failla
News
NYC Will Have Curfew After Looting On Fourth Night Of Protests NYC Will Have Curfew After Looting On Fourth Night Of Protests
NYC Will Have Curfew After Looting On Fourth Night Of Protests New York City will be under a curfew effective immediately amid violent protests and looting that have broken out in the wake of George Floyd’s police-related death in Minnesota. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the curfew will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. effective Monday, June 1, while the state’s National Guard will be on standby following four days of protests. Additionally, the NYPD will be doubling its presence in the city to help prevent any potential violence or property damage.  The officers will be deployed to areas where violence and …

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by Zak Failla
News
Protest Moves To Saw Mill River Parkway In Westchester Protest Moves To Saw Mill River Parkway In Westchester
Protest Moves To Saw Mill River Parkway In Westchester Hundreds are gathering in Westchester for a protest against police-involved incidents, including the George Floyd incident in Minneapolis. The "March For Justice, March In Solidarity" protest started at around 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31 near City Hall on South Broadway in Yonkers. Protestors chanted, "No Justice, No Peace," and "Black Lives Matter." By around 4:45 p.m., a smaller group of protestors made their way toward the Saw Mill River Parkway, before walking eastbound toward Yonkers Avenue. The protestors have remained off the parkway, but police have closed the southbound lanes in that a…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
NYC Protests Spread To All Boroughs, With Over 300 Arrested, Dozens Of NYPD Vehicles Damaged NYC Protests Spread To All Boroughs, With Over 300 Arrested, Dozens Of NYPD Vehicles Damaged
NYC Protests Spread To All Boroughs, With Over 300 Arrested, Dozens Of Nypd Vehicles Damaged The third night of protests in New York City in response to the death of George Floyd resulted in more than 300 arrests and vandalism to dozens of police vehicles. The protests, which had been in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn the previous two nights, stretched to all five boroughs on Saturday, May 30, and included some of the city's landmarks. Earlier story - Hudson Valley Woman Charged With Attempted Murder Of Four NYPD Officers During Protest New York State Attorney General Letitia James will review all actions and procedures used during protests in New York City a…

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by Joe Lombardi